How To Store Easter Lily Bulbs. Best Overall Guide

To know how to store easter lily bulbs, choose whether you want to do it indoors or outdoors. This popular gift plant doesn’t have to become useless once winter comes, especially if you learn the tips and tricks below. It’s even common nowadays to rebloom easter lilies once the weather allows. 

Easter lilies will last long once you ensure proper care and maintenance. You can consider using a greenhouse for the bulbs if you don’t have an area that you’re sure is safe and stable for them. Otherwise, apply the techniques below to ensure healthy and thriving bulbs later on. 

 

Guide On Storing Easter Lily Bulbs Indoors And Outdoors

When storing easter lily bulbs, you can choose to do it indoors or outdoors. This complete guide will teach you some useful tips for easter lily bulbs to ensure that they will be viable for use later on. Make sure to follow the instructions for indoor and outdoor storage, and you shouldn’t face many issues.

Knowing how to store easter lily bulbs is useful for gardeners and those that supply the bulbs to other growers. You’ll be able to provide the bulbs by the end of fall, and they’ll be ready for potting in the greenhouse. This way, the lilies will bloom in time for Easter

 

Indoors

 

Step #1. Digging

If you opt to store easter lily bulbs indoors, you have to start after the first frost or over winter if you are in a colder region. Begin lifting them from the ground around this period to avoid damages and ensure their survival. A useful tip is cutting the foliage to three inches above ground level to make it easier to dig out and lift the bulbs. 

After cutting their foliage, dig around the bulb with a spade to avoid damaging it. This way, you can loosen the soil from the bulbs without risking hitting the roots. Once you’ve lifted the bulbs, remove the leftover soil under running water. 

 

Step #2. Drying

Before anything else, you want to inspect the bulbs first as some of them may show signs of diseases or are damaged and rotten. Throw them away to prevent any problem from spreading among the healthy bulbs. However, never compost the diseased bulbs because this can also cause the spread of infection. 

Once you’re left with healthy bulbs, place them on a tray with adequate spacing for drying. Air circulation is vital to prevent fungal diseases, but don’t be tempted to subject them to heat. You can also avoid such problems by applying fungicidal powder to the bulbs and controlling the conditions in a greenhouse. 

 

Step #3. Storage

You can simply put them in a cool dark place for drying and mold prevention, ideally between 60 to 70°F. After drying, you can dust them again with fungicidal powder before placing them in paper bags with some vermiculite or into a ventilated cardboard box. 

You can consider misting the bulbs if they get too dry but ensure enough spacing among them to prevent dampness and rot from spreading. You can then plant the bulbs in spring after the threat of frost has passed. However, the ground should be workable as well. 

 

Outdoors

 

Step #1. Let the foliage die

In some regions, you don’t need to take the bulbs indoors for the winter. You can leave them outdoors, and the easter lily bulbs can still survive. However, the emphasis is necessary that this is only applicable if your region never experiences heavy snow, freezes, or rain in the colder months. 

To overwinter the bulbs, you want to let the easter lilies die back. You can encourage them to wither by stopping watering after the blooming period. However, don’t be tempted to cut the dead foliage so you can help the bulbs store energy for the winter. 

 

Step #2. Keep the bulbs from sitting on wet soil

You can support the easter lily bulbs by maintaining the environment. Start by ensuring that the soil is well-draining because if it gets soggy, it can lead to rot. Amend the soil with perlite at planting time to improve its structure and raise the ground level over each bulb. 

This way, the mound prevents the bulbs from potentially sitting on the wet ground during winter. More so, don’t forget to mulch the bulbs for additional protection. Experienced gardeners recommend using four inches of straw in the fall before the ground gets cold. 

 

Conclusion

The beginning of the winter season doesn’t have to be stressful when growing easter lilies. If you know how to store easter lily bulbs either indoors or outdoors, you’ll always have a productive garden year-round. You can let the foliage die and overwinter the bulbs outdoors if your area has a mild climate. 

Just provide mulch and maintain good drainage on the ground to prevent rot. On the other hand, carefully dig out the bulbs and dry them indoors until planting if you have harsh winters. Make sure to remove damaged and diseased bulbs and use fungicide before storing in a cool dark place. 

Overall, proper maintenance and consistency in caring should help ensure the survival of your bulbs. Always protect them from extreme conditions and prevent the spread of diseases such as fungal growth. And only consider overwintering easter lily bulbs outdoors if your region never experiences heavy rain and snow or freezing temperatures.

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